A Maple Grove man who is fighting two deadly diseases is doing something quite remarkable. Doctors give Bob Karlstrand only months to live.

"Right now I feel pretty good," he said as he sat in his living room.

By all accounts, the 65-year-old Karlstrand has lived a very full and active life. Karlstrand served in the Air Force, helping to coordinate B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War.

But things have slowed down for Karlstrand. He's fighting colon cancer and a terminal lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis.

"I have no pain which is a good part of the disease, but I get short of breath and cough a lot," he said.

No one would blame Karlstrand if he took this time to concentrate on himself, but that's not what he's doing. He's giving away his things to others who might need it the most. He's also giving away his house, the one he's lived in for the last 38 years.

"It's been a real good house, it's in a good location," Karlstrand said.

He is donating his house to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, with one stipulation, that the home goes to a veteran. The organization started the Veteran's Initiative in 2012. Since the program started, the group has repaired homes and helped veterans to become homeowners.

"I thought if I give back to a veteran and help them out a little bit when they're starting out that will be the best way to go," Karlstrand said.

When Bob is gone, Habitat for Humanity will come in and spruce the place up.

"Now we get to help another family, it's just a wonderful thing that he's done," said Matt Haugen with Habitat for Humanity.

Karlstrand's days may be limited, but his spirit will forever live on in the lives he's touched.

"Like they say, you can't take it with you, so you might as well use it. And if someone else can use it, so much the better," he said.

Karlstand also donated his retirement fund to the University of Minnesota Nursing School. The $1 million donation will provide six scholarships this year alone.

Sonya Goins, reporting
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Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.

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